The Algarve has several cities, towns and villages. The region’s capital is the city of Faro, while other cities include Albufeira, Olhão, Lagos, Lagoa, Loulé, Portimão, Quarteira, Silves, Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António. And when you are traveling between them you get to experience some amazing views. Of Nature & the Atlantic.
We were staying in Olhão and it was our Anniversary. Hence I had planned this romantic super long drive many months in advance. A Western Algarve day trip from Olhão. Just the two of us. Also with us was Louis from ‘Algarve on Wheels’, our chauffeur, guide and soon a friend. A learned man with nature as his research subject, his knowledge of the history of Algarve and Portugal in general was also so impressive. And his smile as we met him first time early morning made our day. We were soon on our way.
Algarve
Castle of Silves
As we wait to collect our entry tickets
Before we enter
And go around
This beautifully maintained Castle
The history
As we observe
And understand
The Archaeological Excavations
From archaeological excavations, it is assumed that the first fortress on this site consisted of a Lusitanian castro. Furthermore it is believed that Phoenicans, Greeks & Carthaginians traversed the site at one time, but that around 201 B.C. the Romans conquered Silves, transforming it into a citadel of their occupation, and commercial center that prospered for the next five centuries
‘Travel with passion’
The vastness of the Castle
As we pose
And then wait for our Coffee & Snacks order
The beautiful Gardens
While some waiting for new plants
The Museum tells a story
Silves City from the Castle
Silves
The Beautiful Hills
All around
And the lovely ‘Orange Roof’ houses
The sharp contrast
Of the old & new
Silves Cathedral
We are now moving towards the Silves Cathedral or Catedral de Silves, which is a former cathedral in the city of Silves. A mosque, built during the Moorish rule of the Iberian Peninsula, was originally located in its current place which was later mostly restructured and converted into a Catholic cathedral after the Reconquista.
Although having some Baroque characteristics, it is mostly Gothic in nature and it is considered to be the main Gothic monument in the Algarve. Therefore being one of the most important landmarks in southern Portugal, it was classified as a National Monument on June 29, 1922.
Silves
The peace
The landmarks
The streets
Silves Cathedral
Gothic Main Portal
As we get a bit closer
The Main Chapel
It was time for a break
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Because there was this nice coffee shop next to the Cathedral we suddenly started feeling very hungry. Me a bit more, as always. Therefore we decided to check it out. Cafe da Se. And let me share with you that it was such a nice cozy place. Moreover with a lovely outdoor sitting area and an indoor space too. And of course some great bites & drinks on offer.
‘Cafe da Se’
You have the tasty ham sandwiches, salads and tuna. The lemon pie, ice cream and chocolate cakes seemed much in demand. One can also try out some delicious wine, beer or Sangria. And of course there is some great coffee, fresh juices or hot chocolate at this spot.
Some Sandwiches for us
The Tuna Wraps with Chips & Mayonnaise
Cold Coffe for her & a Cappuccino for me
And we were happy
On the move again
Romantic Destinations to celebrate our Anniversary
Over the next few hours we undergo some longish journeys. Although the distances are long the smooth roads and vacant highways make driving a real fun. However for us it certainly was those beautiful views of the countryside as we head towards one of the most sought after viewpoints in the Algarve. The breathtaking views of the cliffs, the beaches, the blue sky and the ocean. The mighty Atlantic Ocean. Come experience it with us.
Miradouro Viewpoint
We head to ‘Miradouro Viewpint’
The view of secluded beach from the Viewpoint
While we spend some moments together
You could feel the place
A few clicks for me
And then a sip of this gift for us
Of some Portuguese Wine & Cheese from Louis
While she tries her hand at some selfies
Our journey continues..
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We move through the lovely countryside
The Palm trees
So much a part of Portugal
As we agree on a break
Break of a different kind
To click a memory with my friend & guide, Louis
Prai do Castelo Beach
We reach and head to the beach
Prai do Castelo Beach
Praia do Castelo is a beach in Albufeira located 6.4 km by road to the west of Albufeira old town center and is 51 km west of Faro. This beach is one of sixty nine blue flag beaches in the Algarve.
We get closer to the water
And so does he
Praia do Castelo or Castle Beach is in fact made up of one main beach and several small satellite beaches and coves. The main beach is small and made up of gold sand and is 200 m long and is sheltered by 30 feet high jagged cliffs. Spreading in each direction from the main beach are several small coves, interspersed by rocky outcrops. The beach gets its name from the Watchtower which once stood here
An almost deserted beach
Some memories for us to remember
And those happy moments
Together
We change and spend some time in the ocean
And then walk back
We are on the move again
Blessed with a lovely weather
Nautical Museum Viewpoint
Nautical Museum
Strategically located
As we walk to the viewpoint
For some awesome views
Of the Atlantic & the Cliffs
A great opportunity
To click few more
At this beautiful location
As we take a last few glimpses
Of the Ocean
We were back in Olhão
Back to our accommodation it was time to freshen up and spend some time on the terrace watching the sun set. And then we were off to celebrate.
Our Anniversary Dinner
A Portuguese Specialty Restaurant
With the best of Wine to choose from
Our Anniversary Toast
Some delicious fries
The ‘House Special’ Fish Meal
And this mouthwatering Prawn Dish
And then we were back again
For the best Ice Cream in town at ‘Gelato Davvero’
Western Algarve Day Trip from Olhão. It is the perfect way to spend a day experiencing a lovely castle, a historic Cathedral and a quiet town with peace written all over it. And then the romantic beaches, viewpoints and a lovely drive through a beautiful countryside. Portugal, a country that every traveler falls in love with. We certainly did.
Superb blog… awesome descriptions
Thank you Shantashil. Happy you loved.
The Miradouro Viewpoint is stunning, I’d love to see it in person. Looks like a great day trip from Olhao, and so interesting to see both the old and the new architecture. The food looks delicious, too!
Algarve seems like the perfect destination for an anniversary. I would love to spend a few days there if I ever make it to Portugal. The restaurant where you had your anniversary dinner looks super cool! Glad you mentioned it.
I have seen many photos of the gorgeous Algrave beaches but did not know about the castle. It can be difficult to visit viewpoints without a driver. I love that yours presented a bottle of wine, what a great way to appreciate the beach
Yes Sherianne it was such a nice gesture. Even our accommodation owner had gifted us a bottle.
I must admit I let out a big sigh when I saw this post. We are wishing we could head back to the Portugal. We loved the chance to get out of the city and explore the Western Algarve. But I think we missed Silves on our wanderings. Those views along the coast from the viewpoints sure kept us mesmerized for hours. And we loved that the beaches had such variety. A great spot to celebrate an anniversary!
Yes Linda whenever we are able to travel again, you must revisit Portugal. I too would love to be back.
You have covered quite a lot of places on this day trip! The food and drinks look delicious. Western Algarve looks like a great place with a combination of history, sun and sand. 🙂
Yes Jan it certainly is
That castle looks amazing and I would have loved the archaeological site at the castle. When I was in Lisbon, I could not visit Algarve and I know I missed out on a lot of things. Algarve region definitely looks stunning and looks like it has so many things to do with so much history. I hope I can go back to Portugal again to explore more of the coastal area.
You being an explorer, you’ll love it. There are some trekking trails as well which are very safe for female travelers.
This day trip from Olhao looks great with so many castles visit and great food too. The architecture of Silves Cathedral is very unique. The view of Silves city from Silves castle is mind-blowing.
Yes it’s a nice trip getting a feel of Western Algarve while staying in the Eastern part.
Happy Anniversary! Thank you for sharing your wonderful trip with us. There is just a lot of things to see plus the view at Miradouro is beautiful. The food looks good too.
Thank you so much Clarice.
What a special trip for your anniversary! The history of Silves Cathedral from a mosque is interesting. I think I still can see shapes of mosque in the building. And the food you had on the trip look so delicious. The sandwiches and the fish meal makes me hungry!
Yes Umiko we had a great time really. Living on those memories.